Tamper-proof caps or closures for containers



J. L. ROSEN 3,1029658 TAMPER-PRooF CAPs 0R cLosuREs FOR CONTAINERS Sept 3, 1963 Filed June 27, 1961 United States Patent O 3,102,658 TAMPER-PROOF CAPS OR CLOSURES FOR CNTAINERS p Joseph L. Rosen, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to Super Whip Valve Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 27, 1961, Ser. No. 120,006 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-27) This invention relates to improvements in tamper-proof caps or closures for containers.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a tamper-proof cap for closure for containers, which when removed will be destroyed and incapable of subsequent reuse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tamperproof cap or closure which is removable from the container without tilting or tipping the nozzle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tamperproof cap or closure which may be integrally molded or formed of a plastic composition `and which is inexpensive to manufacture. i

This invention has a particular advantage in connection with containers provided with dispenser valve structures for use in dispensing liquids, powders, and the like under pressure, although it is applicable to :other types of containers. In connection with dispensers yof the type described, the container is usually of an opaque material and `it is impossible for thecustomer to determine at the` n point of purchase whether a portion of the contents of the container has been used. Therefore, it is important that the dispenser valve structure be enclosed and protected by a cap which s tamper-proof and irremovable until such time that the container has been purchased by the ultimate consumer. With rthis invention a cap is provided which will enclose the dispenser valve structure and will not permit its use unless removed. Removal of the cap will destroy the cap and the cap will be incapable of reuse. Removal of the cap would indicate to the purchaser or consumer that the container has been tampered with and this would serve as a warning to the purchaser.

Heretofore, where caps ior closures `were used to cover the discharge nozzle, the cap when pried off or removed would of necessity have to be tilted in relation to the nozzle and 'the cap would engage the nozzle and momentarily tip the nozzle to ione side, which would cause the gas or expellant in the container to escape, with the result that gas was wasted. With the repeated removal of the cap the gas would be depleted before the liquid or powder in the container was completely discharged, resulting in conditions where material remained in the container and could not be expelled. 'Ihis is all eliminated with the present invention in that before the cap is capable of being removed a section or portion of the cap is removed or detached from the cap, permitting expansion of the cap so that it is lifted axially with respect to the nozzle without tilting or tipping the nozzle.

Other [objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is an enlarged view partly in section, showing the tamper-proof cap `of this invention applied to a container.

FIGURE 2. is a View showing the strip pantially severed from the cap.

fFIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3 3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a View of the cap with the `strip completely severed from the cap.

and until the-cap has been FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on linesV FIGURE 3, and i FIGURE 6is a sectional View taken on lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3. t

The cap, generally indicated at 10, comprises a shelllike body 12 formed preferably of polyethylene material, closed at the top 14 and open at the bottom 16 to` provide Ian annular opening. An inwardly extending lip, ring, or flange )18 is formed integrally with the body 12 adjacent the bottom Iopening of the cap for the purpose of engaging the peripheral edge of the neck ofthe container, as will be described more fully hereinafter. 'Ihe `inwardly extending lip or flange `18 is annular in shape and extends around the lower inside circumferential portion of the body, except for the strip which is removable and which will now be described. The inside wall of the lip tapers or inclines as indicated at 19. i

The body is provided with two spaced vertically extending inwardly facing recesses 20 which form therebetween a vertical extending strip 22. The vertically extending recesses extend from the bottom of the cap upwardly-to a point indicated at 24. The Vertical recesses 20V are formed vin the molding process of the cap and form the weakened lines along which the strip 22 is torn or severed from the cap. As heretofore stated, there is no lip `at the lower end of the strip 22.

Integrally formed with the cap but `adjacent the top of the strip 22 is an annular member or button 26 which is so molded that 4a space 28 is provided between the inside wall of the button and the exterior surface of the body of the cap to permit a persons finger to'be inserted` for `grasping the button, as best shown in-FIGURE 3l The 1 top of the button 26 is slightly below `the top yplane of the top of the cap and the button does not extend beyond the outside diameter of the cap body, permitting the cap to be used with present automatic` capifeeders. The cap body is provided with equally spaced vertically extending ribs 29. `This prevents squeezing of the cap as *in unauthorizedrernoval of the cap. i i

The cap 10 is integrally formed of a polyethylene material and the body 12 is suliiciently resilient rto `permit a slight expansion of the lower portion of the body when i it is applied to the conventional neck of the container, as y will be presently described, to form an interlock iit therewith, `and yet is .of such character that it cannot be removed therefrom without destroying the cap.`

The conventional pressurized container to whichthe cap is applied is indicated by the numeral 30 and comprises the conventional neck, generally indicated at 32, which may have a rolled edge 34. Seated within the neck of the container is the conventional upper end closure 36 having a peripheral edge portion 38 polled about the rolled edge 34 of the container. A resilient ring 40 `of rubber is employed between the rolled edge 34 and the peripheral edge 38 to provide a` seal-tight lt therebetween. It will be understood that the neck ofthe container as herein defined shall include the rolled edge 34 `and the peripheral edge portion 38 to which the cap tof the present invention is secured.

The upper end closure 36 is provided centrally thereof with 'an opening 42 which suitably supports a plug 44 of resilient material on which is supported the nozzle generally'indicated at 46. Positioned inside the plug is the usual stem and valve member, not shown. The construction of the pressurized container and the upper end closure, as well as the valve structure forms no part of this invention las same is conventional in the art. l

This invention is `adaptable to any style container now on the market, therefore, no reconstruction of any of the containers presently on the market is necessary.

The cap 10 is finally positioned on the neck of the con- Patented Sept. 3, 1963` m39 tainerso that'th'einneriringor flange or lip 18 of the cap engages the undersideof the, peripheral edge 381 of thev neck throughout its circumference, except for the strip 22, to lock the cap to the container in a permanent manner 'and to prevent detachment of the cap from said'neck either by prying or in any other manner, exceptxby destroyingfthe cap, in accordance with this invention. In this locked position the cap is securely locked.. and is irremovable from the container and may beshipped; transportedand manually handled without causingdisengagement offthe cap from the container. The button 26fzon thecap will not interfere vwith the fnormal handling. of 'the' container nor'is it susceptible of'accidental-engagement With anyex-terior surfaces. With the cap secured Vto the container the customer or-ultimate, consumer'is assured that thegcontainer hasnotbeen tampered withl after ithas been'originally filled and knows that theY contents are lled to the capacity of they container.` The `inclined or tapered wall 19 of the lip 18*facilitates` the initial application of the capto the 'neck' of lthe container.

When the container is desired to lbe used. in; its linitial instance, the cap must 4be removed. This is accomplished by manually engaging the button 26and pulling. down-y wardly so that the strip 22 tears along the two ventically: spaced weakenedf'or recessed portions 20, from the upper portion of the stripl to thelower end of thezcap. With the.

strip 22 removed, a rectangular shaped openingV 50 (FIG- URE 4) isl formed in llthecap. The cap. body therefore expandsin relation to the neck of the container so that the lip 18 can be disengaged from the.underside of the periph'- eral edge 38v and the .cap is-"lifted axially withrespect to the nozzle 46 Vwithout tippingmthe nozzle and is removed from the container.`

By virtue ofy the rectangular shaped "opening 50 in the` cap, thefurtheriusefulness ofthe cap is destnoyedand it cannot thereafter beagain applied to, the vcontainer for. enclosingthe nozzle, thus, aftertherrcapshas been removedby any unauthorized person it cannot againbe reapplied to the container.

There is thusprovidedia cap which serves to cover andi protect the nozzle structure in a sanitary condition during shipment `and'storageand against unauthorized use from the period that thecap has ,been initially appliedat Ithe manufacture source vuntil use.

It will be understood lthat various changes and modifi'- cations maybe made from the foregoing vvithoutdepart-4 ving from the spirit and` scope of thecappended claims.`

cap vto said container against unauthorized removal, said bodyhavingmeans, dened by a weakened area extending vertically upward from the inwardly extending lip and as a cap.,

2. A tamper-proof cap for use with a pressurized container having a dispenser valve structure, saidcap having a cup-shaped body closed at the upper end and provided with an annular opening at the lower end thereof, lip means'extending.inwardly from the lower end of lsaid cap land 4adapted to engage the neck of'theicontainer to prevent normal removal of said capA from said container, said body having a weakened area and la `manually enga-geable member exteriorly of said body and connected to said body adjacent said weakened area to permit tearing:

of said body along said weakened areato provide an opening in said capv to permit `removal of .said cap from the neck of said container and to destroy `said cap forireuse, said manually vyengageable member extending within the outside widest diameter of the body vand betweenV the upper and lower ends of said body.

3. In a structure defined in claim 2 in which the Weakened area comprises two ventically extending yspaced lines extending from the bottom opening of said cap upwardly so that tearing of said cap along said lines provides a substantially rectangular shaped cutout in said cap.

4. In a structure defined in claim 2 in Whichthe weakenedarea forms a strip which is adapted ltobe. manually detached fnom said cap alongsaid weakened Iarea topermit removal of said cap from said containerand preventreuse of said cap.

5. In" a `structure defined in claim 4in which .a manu- Ially engageably member `is secured adjacent the upperend of said stripto permit manual engagement therewith'.

6. In a structure delined in claim 2 in which'- the lip;

means hasan inclinedl wall.v

7. Ina structure defined inclaim 2 in `Whichthe cap" 'is'integrally formed of 4a plastic polyethylene material.V

References lCitedin the tile ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CAP FOR A CONTAINER, SAID CAP HAVING A BODY PROVIDED WITH A CLOSED UPPER END AND WITH AN ANNULAR OPENING AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, AN INWARDLY EXTENDING LIP ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE SAID BODY AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE NECK OF THE CONTAINER TO SECURELY LOCK SAID CAP TO SAID CONTAINER AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL, SAID BODY HAVING MEANS, DEFINED BY A WEAKENED AREA EXTENDING VERTICALLY UPWARD FROM THE INWARDLY EXTENDING LIP AND INCLUDING A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE MEMBER EXTERIORLY OF THE BODY AND ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO BE TORN FROM SAID BODY TO PROVIDE AN EXPOSED OPENING IN SAID BODY TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF SAID CAP FROM SAID CONTAINER AND TO PREVENT THE SUBSEQUENT REUSE OF SAID CAP AS A CAP. 